..P1.'.'!n :.J T7.7ir C HAp.I. Epiftleto the Theff'alanians. V &it.Il. 75 mine Faith, and the mouth neuer denyed it. Is it not lawfull to flie in times ofperfecution ?'&4 fir. Tertullian wrote a whole Treatife to proue it limply vn- lawfull. Better a great deale his Scholler Saint Cyprian allowes it in cafe, and with limits perfwades it. What thofe limits are,the Reader mayfinde largely & iudiciouily expreffed in Saint auguftines t go.Epiflle,Eum Confide. Is it warrantable vltroneoufly to offer our felues to Martyrdome ? Re,rp. Examples are not infrequent in the Primitive Church ; yet did Saint Cyprian díffwade it to his people. Prudently : for why tempt wee God ? Why . prefttme we of our owne firength ? Saint Peter by fuch occalion ex egreviopro fumptore Creber of elïns eft. And multitudes of fuch foo'.e_hardies , k Eufebius records to haue fallen to abnegation. I like fortitude tem- pered with prudence and humility. Thofe voluntary con- fell-ions mentioned in Gory, had no doubt, their fpeciall heroicall inflinet. Till we be affured of the like, let vs not attempt to imitate their praetife. Howbeit,that Confefon is an of icc and worke ofFaith,in Calm necefarie,wee haue before fhowne. In iudgement ermine owne and other mens gracious eflate, this rule I walke by. I heed not fo much the elicite interiour acs of grace : as thofe exteriour and imperate. Reafons are, I. The elicete, I fee, are arrogated and pre- tended by palbablefl; Hypocrites. 2.In men moil vpright, are fornetimes not difcernable. Thus vnderlland mee: Mens feare of God I fudge not of, by their protef}ation of inward motions; but by externall effeôts as Care to depart fromeuill. Their loue ro God, I iudge of, by obedience; their Faith, by work,es of C'harity,mercy, fortitude, &e. Let them fweare by a thouland Gods that they feare the lining and true God, while I fee them (corrupt and abominable in their doings, I fay as David, m there is nofeare of God before their eyes.Let them boaft, ifthey will, of Abrahams orxnpopvía in Faith, yet while I fee them n leane`to their owne rwifedome, and choofe meaner vnfan5hfled to prouide for Temporalities, I fay in my heart, there is in TY.téa., tPfal.x4.F. m Pfab36.x. ° Pro.3.;.
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